Reusable straw assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly and method for the use and cleaning of a reusable straw is provided. The assembly includes an inner and outer member which, when fitted together, form the straw. Each member has a tab at one end to inhibit the member from falling out of a dishwasher while the member is being washed. Each member includes a gap in its tubal shape. The gap runs along its longitudinal length. The gap allows for better access to its interior for cleaning and disinfecting. In operation, the inner member translates inside the outer member in preparation for use. The inner member translates out of the outer member in preparation for cleaning.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to a straw assembly, and moreparticularly to a straw assembly which can be washed and reused.

2. Description of Related Art

The desire in society to reuse items is growing. Drinking straws aretypically used one time and then thrown away which takes up valuablespace in municipal landfills. One straw may not be large, but it morethan makes up for is small size by the volume of straws used. InAmerica, about 500 million drinking straws are used every day; whichequates to a volume of over 125 school buses every day.

Present reusable straws result in some disadvantages. The maindisadvantage straws have for reuse is the shape. Straws are long andnarrow tubes with small apertures at either end for liquid to be suckedthrough when the straw is in use. The straws shape is convenient for itsdesired use, but that same shape makes it hard to clean. Its long andnarrow shape does not permit water and cleaning agents easy access tothe straws interior when the straw is placed in a dishwasher. A failureto properly clean and disinfect a reusable straw between uses increasesthe chance that harmful pathogens will develop and be spread to futureusers. This danger has resulted in users cleaning reusable straws byhand using special brushes. While the straws get cleaned, the extra timeneeded to properly clean the straws, and the need to store the specialbrushes to clean the straws, discourages users from purchasing andreusing the straws.

Although strides have been made in cleaning reusable straws,considerable shortcomings remain. It is desirable to provide users areusable straw that can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. Such areusable straw would allow dishwasher jets easy access to the interiorlength of the straw for quick and efficient cleaning and disinfectingwhile in the utensil rack of the dishwasher.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the application are setforth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as wellas a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantagesthereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a disassembled side view of a reusable straw assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is an assembled side view of the reusable straw assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an alternative side view of the reusable straw assembly ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the reusable straw assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the reusable straw assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for the use of the reusable straw assembly ofFIG. 1.

While the assembly and method of the present application is susceptibleto various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are hereindescribed in detail. It should be understood, however, that thedescription herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit theapplication to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of thepresent application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are describedbelow. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actualimplementation are described in this specification. It will of course beappreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment,numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedeveloper's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationshipsbetween various components and to the spatial orientation of variousaspects of components as the assembly are depicted in the attacheddrawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the artafter a complete reading of the present application, the assembly,members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in anydesired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatialrelationship between various components or to describe the spatialorientation of aspects of such components should be understood todescribe a relative relationship between the components or a spatialorientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the devicedescribed herein may be oriented in any desired direction.

The assembly and method in accordance with the present applicationovercomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonlyassociated with traditional reusable straws. In particular, the reusablestraw of the present application is configured to separate into aplurality of parts which allows a straw to be better cleaned when placedin the dishwasher. These and other unique features of the assembly arediscussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The assembly and method will be understood, both as to its structure andoperation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying description. Several embodiments of the assembly may bepresented herein. It should be understood that various components,parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combinedtogether and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are withinthe scope of the present application, even though not all variations andparticular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also beunderstood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/orfunctions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated hereinso that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from thisdisclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of oneembodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate,unless otherwise described.

The assembly and method of the present application is illustrated in theassociated drawings. The assembly includes an outer member and an innermember. The inner member and outer member have a gap along theirlengths. The gap allows for better access of cleaning solutions to theinterior of the reusable straw assembly. The inner member translatesalong the interior length of the outer member for use or for cleaning.Additional features and functions of the assembly are illustrated anddiscussed below.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identifycorresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout theseveral views. FIG. 1 illustrates a disassembled side view of a reusablestraw assembly 101. Assembly 101 is comprised of a plurality of memberswhich are each the customary length of a straw and not limited by theproportionality found in the figures. In its current configuration,assembly 101 has an outer member 103 and an inner member 105. It isunderstood that assembly 101 will be composed of any commonly usedmaterial for reusable straws; such as: stainless steel, bamboo, orpetroleum based material for example. The material will allow forrepeated use and washings in a dishwasher or for washing by hand.

Referring also to FIG. 2 in the drawings, an assembled side view of thereusable straw assembly is illustrated. When assembled, assembly 101 ishollow tube which has a bottom end 107 and a top end 109. Bottom end 107is comprised of a bottom end 107 a of outer member 103 and a bottom end107 b of inner member 105. Additionally, top end 109 is comprised of atop end 109 a of outer member 103 and a top end 109 b of inner member103.

Outer member 103 and inner member 105 are also hollow tubes in shapeexcept for a gap. Outer member 103 has a gap 113 a which runs frombottom end 107 a to top end 109 a. Inner member 105 also has a gap 113 bwhich runs from bottom end 107 b to top end 109 b. Gap 113 a and gap 113b allow a dishwasher's jetted water better access to the interiors ofouter member 103 and inner member 105. The jetted water is able toremove contaminates and pathogens which could adversely affect the userwhen drinking through assembly 101.

Assembly 101 has a plurality of tabs 111 located adjacent to bottom end107. In the current configuration, there is a tab 111 a, which extendsaway from an exterior surface 115 a, located at bottom end 107 a. Thereis also a tab 111 b, which extends away from an exterior surface 115 b,located at bottom end 107 b. It is understood that outer member 103 andinner member 105 could each have more than a single tab. The size of tab111 a is less than or equal to the available circumference of outermember 103. The size of tab 111 b is less than or equal to the availablecircumference of inner member 105. The purpose of tabs 111 is to preventouter member 103 and inner member 105 from exiting the utensil rack in adishwasher while the dishwasher is running.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3-5 in the drawings, assorted views ofassembly 101 are illustrated. FIG. 3 demonstrates the translation ofinner member 105 along a longitudinal length 119 of outer member 103.While tab 111 b is shown to be translating towards top end 109 a, it isunderstood that tab 111 a could also be translated towards top end 109b. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a bottom view and a section view ofthe top end of assembly 101 respectively, inner member 105 translateswithin outer member 103 such that exterior surface 115 b is incommunication with an interior surface 117 a. It is understood thatinterior surface 117 a and exterior surface 115 a are in communicationwith each other through a releasable binding force, for example, aninterference fit, friction fit, or a compression fit. It is alsounderstood that assembly 101 may be repeatedly assembled anddisassembled for use and for cleaning.

When assembly 101 is assembled, outer member 103 encompasses orsurrounds a portion of inner member 105. Gap 113 b is adjacent tointerior surface 117 a and opposite of gap 113 a. Gap 113 a and gap 113b comprise less than a half 121 of the tubal circumferences of outermember 103 and inner member 115 respectively.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, demonstrating the method for operation ofthe reusable straw assembly. The user obtains a reusable straw assemblywith an outer member and an inner member, step 301. The user assemblesthe reusable straw assembly for use by translating the inner memberinside the outer member relative to one another, step 303. It isunderstood that step 303 is not necessary if the reusable straw assemblyis already assembled. For proper assembly, an inner member tab islocated adjacent to an outer member tab, step 305. Also, an inner membergap is encompassed by the outer member such that the inner member gap islocated generally opposite an outer member gap, step 307. After use ofthe reusable straw assembly, the user may dissemble the assembly by,again, translating the inner member along the inner surface of the outermember, step 309. Disassembling the reusable straw assembly prior tocleaning for better access for cleaning solutions to the interior of theassembly, through the member gaps.

The current application has many advantages over the prior art includingat least the following: (1) a reusable straw which allows easy access toits interior length for quick and efficient cleaning and disinfecting;and (2) the reusable straw assembly will remain in the utensil rack ofthe dishwasher.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as theapplication may be modified and practiced in different but equivalentmanners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particularembodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all suchvariations are considered within the scope and spirit of theapplication. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forthin the description. It is apparent that an application with significantadvantages has been described and illustrated. Although the presentapplication is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited tojust these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modificationswithout departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable straw assembly, comprising: an outermember configured to be a hollow tube in shape with a gap which runsfrom a bottom end to a top end of the outer member; and an inner memberconfigured to be a hollow tube in shape with a gap which runs from abottom end to a top end of the inner member, the inner member isconfigured to translate along an inner surface of the outer member. 2.The reusable straw assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap of the outermember is less than half of the tubular circumference of the outermember.
 3. The reusable straw assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap ofthe inner member is less than half of the tubular circumference of theinner member.
 4. The reusable straw assembly of claim 1, wherein theinner member translates along an inner surface of the outer member suchthat an exterior surface of the inner member and the inner surface ofthe outer member are in communication.
 5. The reusable straw assembly ofclaim 4, wherein the inner member and outer member communicate with eachother through a releasable interference fit.
 6. The reusable strawassembly of claim 4, wherein the gap of the inner member is opposite theouter member's gap when assembly is assembled.
 7. The reusable strawassembly of claim 1, wherein the outer member surrounds the inner memberwhen the inner member is in communication with the outer member.
 8. Thereusable straw assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first tablocated at the bottom end of the inner member; and a second tab locatedat the bottom end of the outer member; wherein the first tab and thesecond tab are configured to extend out away from an outer surface ofthe inner member and an outer surface of the outer member respectively.9. The reusable straw assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer member'stab is located adjacent to the inner member's tab when reusable strawassembly is assembled.
 10. The reusable straw assembly of claim 8,wherein the inner member tab width is equal to or less than the width ofthe inner member.
 11. The reusable straw assembly of claim 8, whereinthe outer member tab width is equal to or less than the width of theouter member.
 12. The reusable straw assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising: a tab configured to extend out away from at least one of anouter surface of the inner member and an outer surface of the outermember.
 13. A method of using a reusable straw assembly, comprising:obtaining the reusable straw assembly including: an outer member with agap along its length and a tab at its bottom end; and an inner memberwith a gap along its length and a tab at its bottom end; assembling thereusable straw assembly by translating the inner member along an innersurface of the outer member; and dissembling the reusable straw assemblyby translating the inner member along the inner surface of the outermember.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: locating thetabs of the inner member and outer member adjacent to each other. 15.The method of claim 13, further comprising: locating the gap of theinner member such that it is encompassed by the outer member.
 16. Areusable straw assembly, comprising: an outer member configured to be ahollow tube in shape with a gap configured to be less than half of theouter members total circumference which runs from a top end to a bottomend of the outer member, the outer member has at least a tab at thebottom end of an exterior surface, wherein the tabs width is a portionof the total circumference of the outer member; and an inner memberconfigured to be a hollow tube in shape with a gap configured to be lessthan half of the inner members total circumference which runs from a topend to a bottom end of the inner member, the inner member has at least atab on an exterior surface at the bottom of the inner member, whereinthe tabs width is a portion of the total circumference of the innermember, the inner member translates along an inner surface of the outermember to form the assembly, wherein an exterior surface of the innersurface is in communication with the interior surface of the outermember.